The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has released the final report of its representation review of Golden Plains Shire, recommending that in the future the Shire be represented by seven councillors – two councillors from a north-west ward, two from a central ward and three from a south-east ward.
The VEC will submit its recommendation to the Minister for Local Government as required by the Local Government Act 1989. If approved by the Minister, the electoral structure will apply at the October 2020 general election.
The selected Option B consists of seven councillors elected in the following ward structure:
- A two-councillor ward (Goldfields Ward) in the north-west of the local council (Haddon, Napoleons, Scarsdale and Smythesdale), covering the region focused on Ballarat;
- A two-councillor ward (Central Plains Ward) in the thinly populated central area of the local council (Cape Clear/Illabarook/Rokewood Junction, Dereel, Inverleigh, Linton, Rokewood/Corindhap, Shelford and Teesdale); and
- A three-councillor ward (Eastern Plains Ward) in the south-east of the local council (Bannockburn, Batesford, Lethbridge, Maude/Steiglitz/She Oaks and Meredith), covering the growth area focused on Geelong.
The VEC conducts a representation review of each municipality in the state every 12 years. Golden Plains Shire Council is currently an unsubdivided local council with seven councillors and the review process began in January 2019 with two public information sessions in Bannockburn and Smythesdale. Preliminary submissions from the local community and the VEC’s own research informed the VEC’s preliminary report with three proposed options for the electoral structure of Golden Plains Shire Council: the current unsubdivided electoral structure; seven councillors elected from three wards (two two-councillor wards and one three-councillor ward); and eight councillors elected from three wards (two three-councillor wards and one two-councillor ward).
The VEC supported Option A while Golden Plains Shire Council resolved at its Ordinary Meeting on 23 April 2019 to make a submission in favour of Option B. At the VEC’s public hearing in Rokewood on 1 May, several residents spoke in favour of Option B and C.
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey says that Council thanks the VEC for its dedicated review and welcomes its recommendation for a new ward-based structure.
“The VEC has conducted a comprehensive review of the electoral structure of our Shire, including the current undivided structure that the VEC put in place following the last review. There was extensive community engagement and Council is pleased that the VEC listened to residents with its decision to recommend a ward-based structure.
“At our April meeting, several Councillors shared the challenges of representing people from 52 different towns and travelling to events and meetings across our very large Shire. Many residents remember the local shires and wards that existed prior to amalgamation and we appreciate that many residents value having more local representation.”
From the VEC’s final report:
“Through the public consultation on this review, the VEC observed strong support for change from the Golden Plains Shire community, including from Golden Plains Shire Council itself. The VEC received submissions from both current and former councillors that, despite their best efforts, councillors in the Shire struggle to provide representation for all areas. The VEC has also heard from residents who feel that representation has deteriorated since the introduction of the unsubdivided electoral structure and that wards would deliver improved representation and greater accountability from councillors. This strong support for change from both the community and the council was taken into consideration by the VEC in determining the appropriate electoral structure for Golden Plains Shire.” – page 24.
“The VEC has also noted that individuals and multiple community groups from across the entire local council area have actively engaged in the representation review process, displaying a strong and passionate interest in their communities. The VEC noted in response submissions and at the public hearing that there is a strong community belief that the introduction of wards would motivate and encourage more people to stand as candidates, and assist in engaging younger community members who currently feel disenfranchised.” – page 24.
In regards to the names of the proposed wards, the VEC final report states:
“The VEC acknowledges that there is interest within the Golden Plains Shire for ward names that reflect the Shire’s geography and history, such as ward names that recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage of the Shire. Differing views on final ward names were expressed through submissions, with no clear consensus of opinion. Accordingly, the VEC has not changed the names in the recommended option since it was presented in the preliminary report. Should the community prefer alternative names to those provided, the Act provides for ward names to be altered by an Order in Council.” – page 25.
The final report is available on the VEC’s website: www.vec.vic.gov.au
Copies of the final report will also be available for public inspection at Council’s Customer Service Office at 2 Pope St, Bannockburn; 19 Heales St, Smythesdale; and 68 Sussex St, Linton.